The Almanac October 30, 2020 - Section 1 by The Almanac

T H E H O M E TO W N N E W S PA P E R F O R M E N LO PA R K , AT H E RTO N , P O RTO L A VA L L E Y A N D W O O D S I D E

O C T O B E R 3 0 , 2 0 2 0 | VO L . 5 6 N O. 8

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Where to vote By Embarcadero Media staff

egistered voters in San Mateo County can bring their completed ballots to any of the 39 drop box locations. Outside drop boxes are available at any time until the close of voting at 8 p.m. on Election Day. Those placed inside buildings are open during the building’s business hours. For nearby locations, go to The Almanac’s online story at tinyurl.com/ sm-co-ballots. A total of 45 in-person vote centers throughout the county will be open from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 3. Atherton’s will be located at El Camino Hall at Menlo College, 1000 El Camino Real. Menlo Park will have three in-person vote centers: Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, Sequoia Room, 700 Alma St.; Onetta Harris Community Center, Multipurpose Room, 100 Terminal Ave.; and the Residence Inn, Menlo Atherton Room, 555

Glenwood Ave. Woodside’s will be at Woodside Village Church, 3154 Woodside Road, and Portola Valley’s will be at Portola Valley Town Center, Community Hall, 765 Portola Road. The San Mateo County Elections Office will also be providing curbside ballot drop-off at all 45 vote centers on Election Day, allowing voters to safely deliver their ballots without leaving their vehicles. The county elections office announced Wednesday that the county’s event center in San Mateo would serve as a “super vote center” due to its large facilities and acres of parking. It plans to set up 20 voting booths 6 feet apart inside Sequoia Hall via the west parking lot entrance on Delaware Avenue, according to a press release. The event center will also have drive-thru voting, where elections staff will bring people a vote-by-mail ballot. New this election, the county has also deployed a mobile vote center targeting urban areas with low eligible voter registration as well as rural areas

Olivia Treynor

Aurelie Harou casts her ballot in the official drop box outside of Menlo Park City Hall on Oct. 27.

affected by the recent CZU wildfires. The mobile vote center will move from Pescadero High School to the Hillsdale Shopping Center from Oct. 30 through Election Day. Pop-up

vote centers will also be held at East Palo Alto Academy Nov. 2-3 and at the La Honda Fire Brigade on Election Day. Anyone voting in person in San Mateo County will be asked

to wear a face covering, maintain at least 6 feet of physical distance from others and use hand sanitizer before and after See VOTE, page 17

Menlo Park council race: Tensions grow over residential rezoning Two would-be competitors sought campaign promises from candidate Wolosin By Kate Bradshaw Almanac Staff Writer

ith days to go until Election Day, Menlo Park’s District 3 race continues to generate controversy. This year, the only contested City Council seat up for election is in District 3, which includes the neighborhoods of Vintage Oaks, Felton Gables, Linfield Oaks, part of the Caltrain line and a small square of Menlo Park west of El Camino Real bordered by Santa Cruz Avenue, Valparaiso Avenue and Crane Street. The three candidates running for the seat are Jen Wolosin, a bike and pedestrian

safety advocate and parent; Max Fennell, a professional triathlete and coffee entrepreneur; and Chelsea Nguyen, a project manager at Cisco, veteran and single mother. Whoever is elected will participate in leading the city’s update to its housing element, a process that will require the city to comply with a state mandate requiring cities to adjust its zoning rules to allow for its “fair share” of new housing to meet the region’s growth. The latest projections from the Association of Bay Area Governments indicate Menlo Park could be on the hook to zone for 3,075 new housing units, 1,218 of which would be required

for low- or very low-income households. One of the key issues that at least some district residents say is Jen Wolosin shaping their decision is opposition to statements Wolosin has made about being open to considering changing zoning in single-family residential areas to permit duplexes or triplexes. Although Wolosin has been the most vocal about her openness to evaluating single-family zoning to permit denser housing, both Nguyen and Fennell told The Almanac they are also

INSIDE

supportive of the idea. In an email, Nguyen said she supported rezoning singlefamily homes to permit multiple houses — but with a significant caveat. She said she would only favor doing so, “if the fence height limit is changed as well, at least up to 30 feet to protect privacy for the neighboring houses.” Fennell, in an email, said he also supported rezoning. “I think rezoning for duplexes or triplexes is important in helping to address the housing crisis right now,” he said. Campaign promises?

residents in particular are advocating against Wolosin’s campaign based on the single-family rezoning question. Both also tried to extract promises from Wolosin and were turned down, asking for a vote for a Planning Commission seat and to rule out rezoning in single-family housing areas. Stu Soffer and Marc Bryman each told The Almanac they had considered running for the council seat, but decided against it. Soffer is an expert witness in intellectual property matters who writes the “Deep Menlo” blog on The Almanac website, and Bryman is a

Two prominent District 3

FALL REAL ESTATE

VIEWPOINT 20 | ARTS 21 | FOOD 23

See COUNCIL RACE, page 14

ELECTION NIGHT LIVE COVERAGE OF LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS PALO ALTO • MENLO PARK • ATHERTON • EAST PALO ALTO • MOUNTAIN VIEW

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 • 10-11 pm FEATURING

WHERE TO WATCH

Palo Alto Weekly Editor Jocelyn Dong

YouTube.com/paweekly

Former Palo Alto City Councilmember Vic Ojakian

MidpenMedia.org

East Palo Alto Media Center Director Henrietta Burroughs

Cable Channel 30

Live interviews with candidates A joint production of Palo Alto Online and the Midpen Media Center

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Daylight Saving Time is ending. Set your clocks back one hour at 2 a.m. this Sunday O O D S I D E

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A L L E Y

Menlo Park’s first recycled water system officially launches in Sharon Heights By Kate Bradshaw Almanac Staff Writer

Magali Gauthier

The Pioneer Saloon in Woodside, like other bars in San Mateo County, still faces restrictions despite the county’s reduced risk of COVID-19 transmission.

More businesses reopen as county moves into orange tier Fewer restrictions imposed as spread of coronavirus slows Eli Walsh/Bay City News Service

an Mateo was one of four counties in the greater Bay Area that moved into a less-restrictive coronavirus reopening tier Tuesday, allowing them to reopen more businesses and expand indoor operations for restaurants and

religious facilities. Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties all moved from Tier 2 (red), to Tier 3 (orange), in the state’s four-tiered reopening system following decreases in their testing positivity rates and their rates of new cases. In many cases, all four counties will be able to expand the

maximum capacity of indoor businesses from 25% to 50% or 200 people, whichever is fewer. San Mateo County moves indicates a reduced risk of COVID-19 transmission. Local health officials say increased testing helped improve the county’s COVID-19 numbers. See ORANGE TIER, page 18

ears in the works, Menlo Park’s first recycled water system is up and running, gathering effluent from household water waste in western Menlo Park, Ladera and Portola Valley and pumping it up to the Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club, where a treatment facility cleans the water and then releases it into a reservoir at the golf course used to keep its lush grass emerald green. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Tuesday, Oct. 27, officials from the West Bay Sanitary District and its private partner in completing the new wastewater treatment facility, the golf and country club, spoke about what the achievement spells for the future of recycled water in Menlo Park. Attendees wore purple masks — to match the purple pipes that carry recycled water — and sat 6 feet apart as stakeholders described the efforts that went into the project. The project, which cost a total of $22.5 million, was funded with a $5.3 million Proposition 1 grant, a voter-authorized state program aimed at funding projects to help meet long-term water needs, and $17.3 million from the golf and country club, said Phil Scott, retired

district manager at the West Bay Sanitary District. The club is repaying the construction loan and paying for operations and management costs, and the sanitary district is managing the facility at cost, said current district manager, Sergio Ramirez. Since the facility started delivering water at the end of July, it has already recycled more than 15 million gallons and has the capacity to process about a half million gallons of water per day, Scott said. The golf and country club is one of the Menlo Park Municipal Water System’s largest users, according to Ramirez. Cutting the club’s reliance on municipal water, which comes from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir in the Sierras, reduces demand on the municipal water system by 14% during the summer months, he said. The system, with the facility nestled behind the golf course toward Interstate 280, actually starts 2 miles away on Sand Hill Road, where it intersects with Oak Avenue. There sits a bright green pump station, where wastewater is collected from the nearby homes and pumped uphill, through pipes under the sidewalks, up to the treatment facility, said Matthew Mirenda, senior project See RECYCLED WATER, page 11

Local private school students return to campus By Angela Swartz Almanac Staff Writer

teacher guides kindergartners into classrooms at Woodland School on Oct. 21 in a video posted on the Portola Valley school’s Facebook page. She wears a mask with a clear plastic panel so they can see her facial expressions. The preschool through eighth grade school is among numerous private schools along the Midpeninsula that are reopening for in-person learning. Like other nearby schools bringing

students back to campus, Woodland is phasing in the returning students. First and second graders join kindergartners this week, who returned to campus last week, said Tanya Spishak, the school’s director of communications, in an email. Third and fourth graders will be back next week. Fifth through eighth graders come back after Thanksgiving break. Phillips Brooks Academy in Menlo Park began in-person instruction on Oct. 19, starting with kindergartners, according to the school’s website. Officials plan to have the students rotate

through two weeks on campus and one week in distance learning. Small cohorts of Menlo School students returned to the Atherton campus starting Monday, Oct. 26. “While this is not ideal in many ways, nothing about the situation we find ourselves in is,” said Head of School Than Healy in an Oct. 9 email to parents. “When considering the choice between developing a plan that would be most likely to meet county guidelines See PRIVATE SCHOOLS, page 14

Courtesy Cyrus Lowe

Menlo School nurse Joan Barada screens students as they enter campus on the first day of hybrid learning Oct. 26. October 30, 2020 Q AlmanacNews.com Q The Almanac Q 5

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The Sequoia Union High School District Board of Trustees

Established 1965

â&#x20AC;Śis seeking applicants to serve on the Districtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Construction Bond Oversight Committee. This committee will meet four times per year to monitor expenditures for the building projects of the approved Measure â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; school construction bond. Periodically, the committee will report bond expenditures to the community. ;OL +PZ[YPJ[ PZ J\YYLU[S` ZLLRPUN [V Ă&#x201E;SS [^V WVZP[PVUZ The District is seeking a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District, or a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in the District and who is active in a parent-teacher organization, such as the PTA or school site council. The District is seeking a community member that is active in a business organization representing the business community located within the District. Applications Applications may be downloaded from the Sequoia District website at www.seq.org or may be requested from the District 6É&#x2030;JL I` JVU[HJ[PUN 4H[[OL^ AP[V *OPLM -HJPSP[PLZ 6É&#x2030;JLY mzito@seq.org, 650-369-1411, ext. 22357 :LUK JVTWSL[LK HWWSPJH[PVUZ [V! 4H[[OL^ AP[V TaP[V'ZLX org Sequoia Union High School District, 480 James Avenue, 9LK^VVK *P[` *(

Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and Woodside for over 50 years

Coroner IDs pedestrian killed in Atherton collision By Angela Swartz Almanac Staff Writer

NEWSROOM Editor Andrea Gemmet (223-6537) Assistant Editors Julia Brown (223-6531) Heather Zimmerman (223-6515) Staff Writers Kate Bradshaw (223-6536) Angela Swartz (223-6529) Contributors Kate Daly, Maggie Mah Special Sections Editor Linda Taaffe (223-6511) Chief Visual Journalist Magali Gauthier (223-6530) Visual Journalism Intern Olivia Treynor

Timeline

he San Mateo County Coronerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office has identified a Menlo Park man killed Monday, Oct. 26, after he was hit by a car while walking across El Camino Real in Atherton, according to town police. At about 6:38 a.m., a woman driving a green Ford Expedition southbound between Atherton and Encinal avenues hit the man, said Atherton police Sgt. Joe Wade in an email. The pedestrian, 61-year-old James Lazcano, suffered major injuries and was transferred to

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COMMU N I TY B R I E F S

Designers Linda Atilano, Amy Levine, Paul Llewellyn, Doug Young

Shuttle route expanded

October 30, 2020 3rd Quarter

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE REQUIRED BY CALIFORNIA DIVISION OF DRINKING WATER The Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Tract Co-Operative Water Company has levels of manganese above the secondary drinking water standard. Although this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we are doing to correct this situation. Our water system is in violation of a secondary drinking water standard. Violation of a secondary standard does not pose an immediate threat to health. We routinely monitor for the presence of drinking water contaminants. Average results for water samples for the last four quarters have manganese levels of 51 ppb in well #1 and 145 ppb in well #2 (ppb=parts per billion). This is above the secondary drinking water standard, or secondary maximum contaminant level of 50 ppb. Manganese concentrations above the standard may have an effect on taste and tend to leave black deposits in some plumbing systems. What should I do? â&#x20AC;˘ You do not need to use an alternative water supply (e.g., bottled water). There is no health risk. â&#x20AC;˘ If you have other health issues concerning the consumption of this water, you may wish to consult your doctor.

ADVERTISING Vice President Sales and Marketing Tom Zahiralis (223-6570) Display Advertising Sales (223-6570) Real Estate Manager Neal Fine (223-6583) Legal Advertising Alicia Santillan (223-6578) ADVERTISING SERVICES Advertising Services Manager Kevin Legarda (223-6597) Sales & Production Coordinator Diane Martin (223-6584) The Almanac is published every Friday at 3525 Alameda De Las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025 Q Newsroom: (650) 223-6525 Newsroom Fax: (650) 223-7525 Q Email news and photos with captions to: Editor@AlmanacNews.com Q Email letters to: Letters@AlmanacNews.com Q Advertising: (650) 854-2626 Advertising Fax: (650) 223-7570

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Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Water has been above the secondary standard for manganese for many years, and this has been described to members in the annual Report on Water Quality Measurements. Recent state regulations have imposed stricter requirements for complying with the secondary standard for manganese. The state has issued the company a citation for noncompliance. The state ordered the company to start quarterly monitoring in February 2012, and this monitoring is still ongoing at both wells. The state also required that manganese monitoring be continued quarterly and that the results of these tests be reported to all water consumers.

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The Company is working with State agencies and the City of Menlo Park to complete the planning of a manganese treatment facility that will then be installed and operational on the Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property. Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this public notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this public notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail. For further information contact: Treasurer Telephone 650-321-2723 Email: oconnorwater@gmail.com Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Tract Co-Operative Water Co., System 4110019 P.O. Box 1375, Palo Alto, California 94302-1375

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The Almanac (ISSN 1097-3095 and USPS 459370) is published every Friday by Embarcadero Media, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025-6558. Periodicals Postage Paid at Menlo Park, CA and at additional mailing offices. Adjudicated a newspaper of general circulation for San Mateo County, The Almanac is delivered to homes in Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Almanac, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025-6558. Copyright ÂŠ2020 by Embarcadero Media, All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. The Almanac is qualified by decree of the Superior Court of San Mateo County to publish public notices of a governmental and legal nature, as stated in Decree No. 147530, issued November 9, 1969. Subscriptions are $60 for one year and $100 for two years. Go to AlmanacNews.com/circulation. To request delivery, or stop delivery, of The Almanac in zip code 94025, 94027, 94028 and the Woodside portion of 94062, call 854-2626.

Stanford Hospital, Wade said. He was pronounced dead at Stanford. The man was not in a crosswalk when he was hit, police said. Police interviewed the driver, a 63-year-old Redwood City woman, and there is no indication of wrongdoing or negligence on the part of the driver. The roadway was temporarily closed Monday morning following the collision, but reopened by 8:46 a.m., according to the town website. A Email Angela Swartz at aswartz@almanacnews.com

Menlo Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free crosstown shuttle will extend its existing Belle Haven route into Palo Alto and Sharon Heights, starting Monday, Nov. 9. The shuttle will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will keep serving the existing destinations: the Belle Haven neighborhood, Menlo Medical Clinic, Menlo Park Library, downtown Menlo Park, the Caltrain station and Little House. The route will also extend to include the Palo Alto Caltrain station, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Stanford Shopping Center, Stanford Medical Center and Sharon Heights. The change restores a service lost to Sharon Heights residents when the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s midday shuttle was suspended in September 2018. Access the schedule online at is.gd/mpshuttlesched. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, shuttle drivers and passengers are required to wear masks, vehicles are cleaned thoroughly, passengers are required to maintain social distance and capacity limits are enforced to prevent crowding. The city also operates a separate free shuttle that picks up residents at their homes and takes them directly to destinations in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Redwood City several days per week, though reservations must be made in advance. Access more information online at is.gd/mpshuttleinfo.

San Mateo County reports stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highest selfresponse rate in 2020 census San Mateo County had the highest self-response rate of people among California counties to the U.S. 2020 census, according to County Manager Mike Callagy in an Oct. 21 press conference. A total of 78.6% of county residents self-responded, meaning they responded to the U.S. Census Bureauâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s census survey online, by phone or by mail. Throughout the county, all communities except Atherton and Woodside surpassed their 2010 self-response rates, the county reported. Self-response rates in 2020 were as follows: Atherton, 76.2%, down from 77.6% in 2010; Menlo Park, 76.9%, up from 76.1% in 2010; Portola Valley, 78.5%, up from 78.1% in 2010; and Woodside, 75.2%, down from 75.6% in 2010. The census officially ended on Oct. 15, although if responses were postmarked by that date they were accepted until Oct. 22, according to the county. The highest self-response rate in the county was in San Carlos, which reached 85.6%. The national self-response rate for the 2020 census was 67%, while the California self-response rate was 69.6%, as of the most recent data available at 2020census.gov. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Kate Bradshaw

Get schooled on a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Scandalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Famed portraitist John Singer Sargent raised many eyebrows in 1880s Paris with his painting of socialite Amelie Gautreau, See COMMUNITY BRIEFS, page 16

N E W S

Coronavirus updates: First COVID-19 drug treatment gains FDA approval

REAL ESTATE Q&A by Monica Corman

What Properties Are Good Value Now?

By Embarcadero Media staff

Dear Monica: I am somewhat put off by the zeal of the current market. Is there any real estate that is a good buy right now? Mark S.

an Mateo County reported 35 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 11,232. The death toll remains at 159. There are 17 people hospitalized. Santa Clara County reported 123 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday, raising the total to 24,425. The death toll has risen to 392. There were 80 people hospitalized, 12 of whom were new. The most recent seven-day rolling average of new cases per day is 115. Courtesy Gilead

FDA approves remdesivir The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the antiviral drug remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients, the first such treatment the FDA has authorized to fight the deadly coronavirus, Foster City-based drug company Gilead Sciences Inc. announced in an Oct. 22 press release. The drug, which is marketed under the name Veklury, works to stop replication of SARSCoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and it has been shown to shorten recovery from the illness by five days, the company stated.

Tubes of remdesivir get capped during an investigational phase. The antiviral drug was approved by the FDA as a treatment for COVID-19.

The drug was previously authorized by the FDA only for emergency use. President Donald Trump was given the drug when he contracted COVID-19 earlier this month. With the approval, it is now widely available in hospitals across the country. Veklury can be prescribed in the U.S. for adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 88 pounds. It should only be administered in a hospital or in a health care setting that is providing treatment comparable to inpatient hospital care, according to the

company. Three randomized, controlled trials preceded the FDA approval, including a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) double blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 ACTT-1 trial. That trial found that Veklury shortened patients’ recovery time by five days compared to a placebo by five days. Patients who were on oxygen support saw their recovery improve by seven days compared to the placebo. Veklury also reduced the See CORONAVIRUS, page 15

Virus outbreaks unavoidable as school campuses reopen, experts warn By Carolyn Jones / EdSource

s schools inch closer to reopening campuses in some parts of California, medical experts are warning that the spread of the coronavirus will be inevitable and schools need to prepare. Recent studies have shown that while children infected with the coronavirus are less likely to have symptoms, they often carry larger viral loads and can be “super spreaders,” passing the virus to each other, their families and teachers. And without widespread testing and contact tracing, identifying children who are infected is nearly impossible because most are asymptomatic, doctors said. “It’s very likely that even with careful screening, kids are going to end up in school with infections,” said Dr. Dylan Chan, associate professor of otolaryngology (ear and throat medicine) at UC San Francisco. “Schools need to recognize that and get

strategies in place.” Schools in some parts of California have reopened or are close to reopening, either because the state has granted them a waiver or their county health officials have given approval. Small inperson classes for students in special education or other highneeds groups have also started in some districts. Schools that reopen must adhere to the state’s strict health and safety protocols that include social distancing, mask requirements, deep cleaning and sending home students who might be sick. So far, the California Department of Public Health has seen a “very small” number of outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — at K-12 schools that have reopened, the department said last week. Dr. Mark Galhy, head of the state’s Health and Human Services Department, credited the small caseload to schools’ and communities’ precautionary measures.

“So far, it’s encouraging to see the tremendous effort and planning that communities and their schools and their staff have done to make sure that it’s lower risk for students and staff alike and...I think that’s encouraging for all of California,” he said. Nonetheless, as more schools open, outbreaks associated with schools will be inevitable whether they originate at the school or within the community, according to the Department of Public Health. “As long as Covid-19 is circulating in communities, it should be expected that cases will be reported in a variety of settings, including among school students, teachers and staff in schools that have reopened for in-person learning,” a department spokesperson wrote in an email. “However, these cases may be associated with transmission within schools or community transmission, and there are

happened in March of this year, many people realized that they wanted more space. Everyone was at home: Mom, Dad, and children – and they wanted a home with more indoor and outdoor space. This depressed the condo market and several condos were marked down considerably in order to sell.

Dear Mark: The market has been very active this year and this is likely to continue for several more months. The one property segment that isn’t in demand now and in some cases, has lost value, is the condominium market. Condo prices are down and there are reasons for this. After the lockdown

When the COVID rules are relaxed and life is nearly back to normal, you may wish that you had bought a condo when prices were down. The value is there.

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See OUTBREAKS, page 16

October 30, 2020 Q AlmanacNews.com Q The Almanac Q 7

N E W S

Atherton council race’s top fundraisers are incumbent Wiest, challenger David New campaign disclosures reveal latest donors and campaign spending in four-way race for two seats By Angela Swartz Almanac Staff Writer

n the race for a seat on the Atherton City Council, the top fundraisers were council member Cary Wiest and challenger Christine David, who each loaned themselves close to $6,000, according to campaign disclosures for the period starting Sept. 20 and ending Oct. 17. They are among the four candidates running for two seats,

which includes incumbent Elizabeth Lewis and challenger Diana Hawkins-Manuelian. Wiest’s comCary Wiest mittee reported raising $6,323, which includes a $5,925 loan from himself and $100 from retired Atherton resident Robert Polito. Wiest spent $6,837 on printing, campaign

mailers and postage. David’s committee raised $6,100, including a $5,500 loan to herself. Donors to her Christine David campaign during this period were: Michael and Deborah Linton, Ancestry.com executive, $200; David Sikes, Google executive, $100; Debbie Cardineau, self-employed, $100;

Walter Sleeth, retired Atherton resident, $100; and Michael McPherson, $100. She spent $3,652 on Facebook advertising, campaign mailers, postage, Google tools and website updates. Hawkins-Manuelian’s committee said it raised $267. Donations came from Gretchen Von Gustlin, retired Atherton resident, $97; David Pettigrew, artist, $97; and Kamran Shirazi, founder, Wrap N Store,

$24. She spent $1,662 on marketing, Zoom tech support, campaign literature, postage, postcards, artwork for her website and signs, printing and email services. Statements show that Lewis plans to raise and spend less than $2,000, which excuses her from filing campaign finance reports. A Email Angela Swartz at aswartz@almanacnews.com

Fundraising for school board races slows as elections approach By Angela Swartz Almanac Staff Writer

andidates for seats on local school boards filed their campaign finance disclosure statements the week of Oct. 19. The Almanac is covering three local elementary and high school board races. There will be no elections for the uncontested seats in Woodside and Portola Valley Elementary districts. Below are finance reports from the period of Sept. 20 to Oct. 17. You can view the FPPC 460 forms at the San Mateo County Elections Office website. Sequoia Union High School District

In the Sequoia Union High School District, there are five

candidates running for three open seats: incumbent Georgia Jack and challengers Rich Ginn, a parent and business owner, and Shamar Edwards, former TIDE Academy principal and current Sunnyvale Middle School principal, in trustee Area C, which represents Woodside, West Menlo Park and Portola Valley. Incumbent Carrie Du Bois is running uncontested to represent Area B, which includes Redwood City, Belmont and San Carlos. Jacqui Cebrian, a teacher and candidate for the district’s Area E, dropped out of the race in mid-September to support candidate Shawneece Stevenson instead. Cebrian said she believed Stevenson, as a Black woman, would better represent the area, which includes Menlo Park neighborhoods east of Highway 101 as well as East Palo

Alto. Cebrian’s name is still on the ballot, as the San Mateo County Elections Office’s deadline for candidates to withdraw had already passed. Jack reported receiving a total of $815 during the most recent reporting period. Her top donors were Colleen Tate, retired Portola Valley resident, $200; Karen Arimoto-Peterson, retired Woodside resident, $100; Gerald Shefren, retired Portola Valley resident, $100; and Carol Wu, data analyst, Stanford University, $100. Jack reported spending $7,022 on layout, printing and mailing services. Edwards raised $1,662. Her top donations came from Joanne Lofthouse, Menlo Park resident, $104; and John Pimentel, co-founder of Foundation Windpower, Sustainable Water

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8 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020

Menlo Park City School District

There are three candidates running for two open seats on the board of the Menlo Park City School District: parent Robert Maclay; parent and communications professional Francesca Segrè; and incumbent Dave Ackerman, a former principal in the district. OBITUA R I E S

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Solutions and candidate for the San Mateo County Community College District school board, $100. She reported spending $3,231 on marketing, mailing fees, printing, postage and graphics. Ginn, a former Las Lomitas Elementary School District trustee, raised $825. He received donations from Rob Linden, analyst, McKinsey & Company, $250; Jon Shank, real estate management, Pelio & Associates, $250; and Gary Little, investor, Canvas Ventures, $100. Ginn spent $13,191 on postcards, web marketing and newspaper advertisements. Stevenson reported receiving $5,908 from the Sequoia District Teachers Association Political Action Committee. She didn’t list any expenditures during this period.

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Local residents who died recently include Marie Therese Arnold, 93, a former employee at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center and member of the Garden Club of Los Altos, who died on Feb. 15, and William R. Carsillo, a U.S. Navy veteran and Menlo Park resident, who died on Sept. 28. To read their full obituaries, leave remembrances and post photos, go to Lasting Memories at almanac news.com/obituaries.

Ackerman did not spend or raise any money during the period. Segrè raised $338, including a $300 loan to herself. She reported spending $3,116 on marketing costs for postcards, mailers and a newsletter. Maclay’s 460 form was not available on the county’s website. Las Lomitas Elementary School District

There are three candidates running for two open seats on the board that governs Las Lomitas Elementary School in Atherton and La Entrada Middle School in Menlo Park. The contenders are Jason Morimoto, a finance executive and parent; Jody Leng, a physician anesthesiologist and parent; and legal executive and parent Molly Finn. Finn reported a donation of $100 from Stephen Diamond, an attorney and Saratoga resident. She spent $5,480 on print advertisements, postcards, campaign masks and postage. Morimoto raised $4,538, including a $928 loan to himself. He received donations from John Earnhardt, a Las Lomitas trustee, $250; Rich Leib, president, Dunleer Strategies, $250; Brian Schmidt, project management, Apple, $250; Jose Carreno, analyst, Department of the Navy, $200; Randy Yuan, engineer, VMware, $100; David Park, education, Charter Asset Management, $100; and Sarah Ruby, lawyer, Santa Clara County, $100. He reported spending $3,802 on voter data, yard signs, his candidate statement, door hangers, campaign literature and mailers and information technology costs. Leng’s 460 form for this time period was not available on the county’s website. A Email Angela Swartz at aswartz@almanacnews.com

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October 30, 2020 Q AlmanacNews.com Q The Almanac Q 9

N E W S

Atherton council votes to shutter train station, pending funding Agreement for Caltrain to fund safety and noise improvements is pending By Angela Swartz Almanac Staff Writer

fter postponing a vote last week, the Atherton City Council on Monday, Oct. 26, approved a plan to shut down Caltrain service in town on Dec. 1 to secure the funding needed to close the historic station. The council voted 4-1, with council member Bill Widmer opposed, to agree to a memorandum of understanding with Caltrain to close the station. It will hold off on signing the agreement until Caltrain reports back on whether it has funds to add quad gates at the Watkins Avenue crossing, said City Manager George Rodericks. The Peninsula Corridor Joint

Powers Board (JPB), which owns and operates Caltrain and consists of representatives from San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, would seek approval from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) for at least 50% match funding for the installation of $800,000 worth of permanent safety fencing and $5 million toward Watkins Avenue crossing safety improvements, per the agreement. The council is asking the transportation agency to cover 100% of the costs for site improvements. Widmer said he didn’t see any recourse in the contract if the stipulations aren’t carried out. Vice Mayor Elizabeth Lewis also did not feel comfortable with the agreement, but said she

supported going forward so long as it wasn’t signed until Caltrain returned with a guarantee of funding for the projects. Sebastian Petty, Caltrain’s deputy chief of planning, said Caltrain officials will ask for funding at the transportation authority’s Nov. 5 meeting. He noted that the JPB can’t assign funds to the projects without securing them first. “We’ve pushed the language as much as we can,” he said. “This is not a negotiating tactic on our (Caltrain’s) part. It’s just legally as far as we can go.” Council member Mike Lempres said it was time to move forward with the closure, noting the town lost negotiating leverage by dragging out the agreement talks.

“It’s not a question of going back and renegotiating with the JPB,” he said. “These (funding station fixes) are real issues we’ve come across and we’re not going to craft our way around them with some sort of different language. ... Caltrain could close the station without our approval. Caltrain has done quite a bit to try to meet our requests when they don’t have to.” City Attorney Mona Ebrahimi recommended finalizing the contract soon for more certainty about securing financing from the transportation authority. One of the other funding options is Measure RR, an eighth-cent sales tax dedicated to Caltrain operations and capital improvements, on the Nov. 3 ballot. If RR passes, the projects

should be fully funded, but if it doesn’t pass, Caltrain’s funding will only go toward its most basic needs possible, she said. The council signed off on a Caltrain proposal to permanently close its historic train station in January because of years of minimal service and low ridership, and a desire to safeguard the town from legislation similar to the recent Senate Bill 50, which would have put cities on the hook for allowing high density housing near public transit. But the town’s agreement of how to close the station with the rail service has been delayed as officials have focused on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Email Angela Swartz at aswartz@almanacnews.com

NASA scientists discover new sources of water on moon’s surface By Kevin Forestieri

new study led by NASA scientists has discovered water present on the moon’s surface in places previously thought to be impossible, raising new potential for harvesting the valuable resource on manned lunar missions later this decade. The study published this week found water on sunlit parts of the moon’s surface, refuting a longstanding theory that water could not survive the lunar day. It opens up the possibility that water could be easier to harvest and more plentiful, giving future missions to the moon the possibility of accessing water from areas other than the ice packed on the moon’s dark and frigid poles. The landmark study now has NASA scientists theorizing how exactly water can persist across the moon’s surface and how much of it is present. It’s also unclear to what extent humans could access the water to drink, turn it into oxygen or tap into as a fuel supply. “This discovery raises new questions about how water is created and how it can persist in the harsh, airless conditions of the sunlit lunar surface,” said Paul Hertz, NASA’s Astrophysics Division director, at a press conference Monday. Scientists have known for years about the presence of hydrogen on sunlit parts of the moon, but the measurements were too imprecise to determine whether it was water or hydroxyl, a similar molecule, said Casey Honniball, the lead author of the study. But researchers were able to use a powerful infrared telescope known as

Courtesy NASA Courtesy NASA

NASA researchers discovered water on the sunlit surface of the moon near the massive Clavius crater site.

SOFIA, or Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, to observe the moon’s surface at just the right wavelength to check for a chemical fingerprint unique to water. “This observation finally allowed us to definitely determine that water molecules are present on the sunlit surface of the moon,” Honniball said. The study focuses on SOFIA’s observations in the southern hemisphere of the moon’s surface at and around the Clavius crater, a huge impact crater more than 140 miles across. Water was measured at a concentration of between 100 and 400 parts per million — hardly puddles of water, Honniball said, but enough to fill a 12-ounce bottle of water from a cubic meter of powdery lunar soil. The observations are limited in the sense that it can only detect water on the very surface of the

10 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020

moon, and it’s unknown whether water could be buried meters underground. SOFIA is a heavily modified 747 jet outfitted with a powerful infrared telescope designed to take measurements from high in the Earth’s atmosphere, flying up to 45,000 feet above ground to make accurate measurements above 99.9% of the water vapor in Earth’s atmosphere, said Naseem Rangwala, project scientist for the SOFIA mission at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View. The observations that became the basis for the significant discovery were originally just a test, she said, checking out the moon’s surface while flying over Nevada en route back to California in 2018. The instruments onboard were used to pick up a specific wavelength unique to water molecules at 6.1 micrometers.

Naseem Rangwala, a NASA Ames project scientist, stands outside the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), the flying observatory that detected water on the moon’s surface.

“SOFIA is currently the only telescope on or off this world that can provide remote access to this unique chemical fingerprint,” Rangwala said. So how does water survive on the hot, sunlit surface without a thick lunar atmosphere? Scientists believe those conditions meant water would either be lost to space or end up in the polar “cold trap” with temperatures low enough to keep water condensed. The current theory, Honniball said, is that water is trapped and preserved in tiny glass beads, likely formed when micrometeorites strike the moon’s surface. It’s possible that solar winds deliver hydrogen that reacts with oxygen present on the moon, or it could be that the meteorites were carrying water during the crash landing, she said.

“These glass beads are about the size of a pencil tip and protect the water from the harsh lunar environment,” Honniball said. NASA is currently pushing to send a crewed mission to the surface of the moon by 2024 as part of the Artemis program, which is largely focused on “sustainable” exploration of the lunar surface. It’s also seen as a stepping stone to better prepare for the first manned mission to Mars. Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist, said the discovery could have huge implications, as water is heavy and expensive to launch from Earth and will eventually run out. Up until now, Bleacher said the expectation was that astronauts would have to harvest water from cold, dark environments that are difficult to reach and even harder to work in for extended periods of time. As part of the Artemis program, NASA scientists have been working on lunar rovers capable of drilling 1 meter below the surface to look for and sample water ice on the poles. The possibility of more plentiful and easy-to-access surface water could be a game changer and ease the dependence on polar ice, but Bleacher said many questions need to be answered. If water is locked into glass beads, it could require more energy to extract than if it were simply mixed in with the soil. It’s unclear how the water gets on the surface, how much of it exists, whether it moves around and if it replenishes over time, he said. A Email Kevin Forestieri at kforestieri@mv-voice.com

N E W S

Stephanie Fitch resigns after two years on Ravenswood school board By Elena Kadvany

rustee Stephanie Fitch, who was elected in 2018 on a campaign of reform and change, is resigning from the Ravenswood City School District Board of Education. Fitch announced her resignation at the end of the board’s virtual meeting Thursday, Oct. 22. “Due to unforeseen family circumstances, I will no longer be a resident of East Palo Alto and thereby be unable to serve on the board,” she said. “It has been an absolute honor to work alongside such brilliant, passionate and dedicated people. I appreciate everyone’s support and respect for the privacy of my family during this time.” Fitch did not respond to a RECYCLED WATER continued from page 5

manager for Anderson Pacific, the contractor that constructed the facility. The district also improved some segments of the walking path along Sand Hill Road in areas where it had to dig it up for the project, Ramirez said. The wastewater is pumped up, where it goes through a series of fiberglass tanks where the smell is scrubbed using bacteria that break down the substances causing the odors. From there, the wastewater goes through a membrane bioreactor process, working through multiple tanks containing bacteria and no oxygen, then lots of oxygen, to trigger reactions that break down solids in the wastewater. Once the effluent reaches a certain level of cleanliness, it is passed through a membrane cassette, between one and two microns

request for further comment. Her resignation is effective immediately, according to board president Ana Maria Pulido. Fitch, an English curriculum manager at Redwood City charter school organization Summit Public Schools, grew up in East Palo Alto but attended Palo Alto schools through the Voluntary Transfer Program. She graduated from Palo Alto High School. Fitch’s 2018 campaign focused on communication, data-driven decision-making and transparency. She served as vice president during her first year on the board, which saw the forced resignation of former Superintendent Gloria Hernandez-Goff and the interim (and later permanent) appointment of Superintendent Gina Sudaria. She also served as

the board made difficult budget decisions, including closing two schools, and the district’s shift to distance learning during the pandemic shutdown. Fitch’s resignation announcement elicited an emotional outpouring from fellow board members who lauded her for being a dedicated public servant who brought a fresh perspective to the district at a challenging time and helped repair fissures on the board itself. Trustee Sharifa Wilson called her departure a “significant loss.” “You have really helped to bring this board together,” Wilson said. “We now have a good reputation out there of working together and focusing on the children.” Trustee Tamara Sobomehin,

who was also elected in 2018, said “it’s been inspiring ... to see someone grow up here, be a child in this community, be a student in the surrounding community and then come back and serve the community. That’s why so many people here do the hard work every day. You’re a product of that hard work.” Under board bylaw, the board must either order an election or make a provisional appointment to replace Fitch within 60 days. For a provisional appointment, the board must advertise the appointment in local media “to draw from the largest possible number of candidates,” board bylaw states. A committee consisting of less than a quorum of the board must ensure that applicants are eligible for board

membership and announce the names of the eligible candidates. The board must interview the candidates at a public meeting, take public input and select the provisional appointee by a majority vote. Pulido said the board is scheduling a special meeting to determine next steps. Fitch’s announcement came less than two weeks before the Nov. 3 election, in which six candidates are running for two open seats on the Ravenswood board. Wilson and Marielena Gaona Mendoza’s terms are ending in November. Wilson is not running for reelection, while Gaona Mendoza is seeking a second term. A

wide, to get rid of particles, and then treated with UV light to kill any remaining bacteria. Once it is considered sufficiently clean, the water is sent down the hill toward a reservoir in the middle of the golf course where it is used for irrigation purposes. Quinten Green, chief plant operator, was busy checking the treatment tanks to sample the oxygen and pH at different steps of the process during the tour. He said he was excited about the system as a new way to treat waste and believed that type of system would grow in popularity in the future. The board at the golf course determined years ago to try to work toward water independence to ensure it could keep its course green for the foreseeable future. As far back as 2008, a club committee determined that operators should view the use of potable water as a shortterm solution and work toward

finding a cost-effective water supply that would not be vulnerable to drought restrictions, said Andy Duncan of the golf and country club. Mirenda said that while some elements of the initiative were complex — determining the correct scale for the project and working through the details of a public-private partnership — the overarching goal was simple: The club needed water, and the sanitary district had plenty of water, albeit used household water. He added that he feels the project paves the way for other country clubs and public agencies, creating a model for how to recover water. In the future, the district plans to build a similar facility

in Menlo Park’s Bayfront area, in the area rezoned in the city’s ConnectMenlo process, but the initiative is still in the early discussion phase, Scott said. The sanitary district is also working to install purple pipes throughout the district in preparation for more recycled water systems throughout the area, Ramirez said. Already, the system has provided some interesting insights to operators about its human waste contributors. For instance, when the system began collecting water in the spring, the time of day with the greatest level of daily water use — generally when people are going through their morning shower and restroom routines — was around

7:30 a.m. As the pandemic has worn on, that high point now peaks as late as 10 a.m., according to Mirenda. Another pandemic behavior that the district dealt with was an uptick in the number of “flushable” wipes ending up in the system. While such wipes may disappear down the toilet, they don’t break down easily, and were causing clogs. Instead of mailers, Ramirez said, the district used online tools like Facebook and YouTube to discourage users from flushing these wipes. Since then, the problem has seemed to improve. A

Email Elena Kadvany at ekadvany@paweekly.com

Email Kate Bradshaw at kbradshaw@almanacnews.com

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TOWN OF PORTOLA VALLEY NOTICE OF TOWN COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING REVIEW PROPOSED UPDATE TO THE MUNICIPAL FEE SCHEDULE TO PRIMARILY ALIGN WITH CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Council of the Town of Portola Valley will hold a Public Hearing on the proposed changes to the fee schedule. The Public Hearing will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., via a Zoom teleconference meeting. To join the Zoom meeting, access the link provided on the November 11, 2020 Town Council agenda. Data associated with the proposed changes will be available to the public by emailing the Town Clerk at shanlon@ portolavalley.net, beginning 10 days prior to the meeting date above. Public Hearings provide the general public and interested parties an opportunity to provide testimony on these items. If you challenge a proposed action(s) in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at a Public Hearing(s) described above, or in written correspondence sent to jdennis@portolavalley.net prior to the Town Council meeting date. All interested persons are invited to appear before the Town Council to be heard at the time and place mentioned above.

realtor and Parks and Recreation commissioner. Both Soffer and Bryman expressed sharp opposition to the notion of rezoning singlefamily areas in Menlo Park for more housing. Soffer said it could diminish the value of single-family homes. Bryman said he favored looking at increasing whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s allowed in areas already zoned for multifamily housing first. After seeing how much time council members are now spending on Zoom, Soffer said he decided not to run and instead approached Wolosin, asking for her to vote to appoint him to a seat on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Planning Commission should she be elected. Wolosin confirmed she declined to promise Soffer a vote for a Planning Commission seat. In an interview, Soffer said that Wolosinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to deny his request did not affect his decision to support Nguyen, and he has not made the same request of any other candidate. Bryman said he spoke with current and former council members about also running for the council seat. He said he too considered running but figured it would take him away from home too much. Councilman and District 5 candidate Ray Mueller said he spoke with Bryman, as well as the three candidates, about what the position entailed before the race began and offered to answer questions. He said he told them he wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t planning to get involved in the race but

TOWN OF ATHERTON

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

NOTICE OF ORDINANCE NO. 646 ADOPTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL

continued from page 5

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF ATHERTON, CALIFORNIA, at its meeting of October 21, 2020 adopted Ordinance 646, an Ordinance of the City Council of the Town of Atherton, State of California, adding amendments to Chapter 17.52 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Accessory +^LSSPUN <UP[ZÂš HUK *OHW[LY Â¸+LĂ&#x201E;UP[PVUZÂš VM [OL ([OLY[VU Municipal Code. The full text of the proposed Ordinance is available for review VY W\YJOHZL PU [OL *P[` *SLYRÂťZ 6É&#x2030;JL H[ >H[RPUZ (]LU\L Atherton, California 94027 or online at www.cit.atherton.ca.us. -VY TVYL PUMVYTH[PVU `V\ TH` JVU[HJ[ [OL *P[` *SLYRÂťZ 6É&#x2030;JL H[ (650) 752-0529. ;OL 6YKPUHUJL ZOHSS ILJVTL LÉ&#x2C6;LJ[P]L [OPY[` KH`Z MVSSV^PUN adoption. The Atherton City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 646 as follows: AYES: Widmer, Wiest, Lempres, Lewis, DeGolia NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None /s/ Anthony Suber _____________________________ Anthony Suber City Clerk Town of Atherton +H[LK! 6J[VILY

14 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020

and not having any students in school until January at the earliest, we chose to do everything possible to have our students back in any way we could.â&#x20AC;? Menlo School required all students and staff to show evidence of having a negative PCR COVID test weekly, according to the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. The school will be providing on-site testing through OneMedical starting the week of Nov. 2, with two testing days per week. The school also has three contact tracers, who can track down contacts of its community members if they test positive for COVID. These schools join local public schools in the Las Lomitas, Portola Valley and Menlo Park City school districts which have reopened in recent weeks. Trinity School in Menlo Park reopened at the

added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be apropriate for me to discourage someone from running.â&#x20AC;? After the first of several candidate forums, which was hosted by the League of Women Voters, Bryman questioned Wolosin about her rezoning position. In a text, Bryman said Wolosin could win his support if she removed the possibility of reconsidering single-family zoning from her campaign platform. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you can tell me now that R1 (the city planning code for single-family zoning) is off the table and you will not advocate for it, I can support you and speak up about it,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. She responded that she understood his position, but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t commit to his request. Later that day, Bryman sent out an email to an unknown number of district residents, urging them to vote against her and consider Nguyenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candidacy, according to an email provided to The Almanac. Wolosin later told Bryman via text that she felt it would be premature to rule out possible policies before the community has had a chance to weigh in. In an interview, Wolosin said that rezoning is just one of many housing policies sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open to considering if elected and tasked with working on the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new housing element. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Rezoning) R1 is not the centerpiece of my campaign,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Housing is a hot topic. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very personal. I understand that.â&#x20AC;? As of The Almanacâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s press time, it also wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t immediately clear whether the question of reconsidering single-family zoning was affecting votes. An active member of the Felton Gables neighborhood, Marcy

As you prepare to fill out your ballot for the Nov. 3 election, The Almanac has compiled its voter guide online with links to news stories, candidate profiles and editorials to help you make an informed decision on local races. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll keep adding links leading up to Election Day. You can find it at tinyurl.com/alm-vg-2020.

Abramowitz, said that the main issues sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hearing people discuss are grade separations and revitalizing downtown. Are you a District 3 resident? Let us know what key issues shaped your vote at kbradshaw@ almanacnews.com. Campaign spending updates

Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 17, Wolosin reported that her campaign had raised $100 in new funds, via a contribution from Joe Adelson of Menlo Park. So far this year her campaign has raised $11,917 and spent $12,516, with $5,522 spent between Sept. 20 and Oct. 17. Both Fennell and Nguyen did not plan to raise or spend more than $2,000. While Nguyenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign spending remains under $2,000, she told The Almanac her campaign received a $1,700 donation from ActBlue, which she used to pay for campaign yard and door signs. She designed them herself to keep costs low, she said. A Email Kate Bradshaw at kbradshaw@almanacnews.com

Courtesy Pete Zivkov

Dennis Millstein, a computer science teacher at Menlo School in Atherton, leads a hybrid class with some students attending remotely, on Oct. 26.

end of September, according to the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website. Meanwhile, the Woodside Elementary School District has committed to finishing the fall semester virtually. Other public schools on the

Peninsula, such as Sequoia Union High School District schools, have remained closed to in-person learning. A Email Angela Swartz at aswartz@almanacnews.com

N E W S

Local cycling group marks 30th with the same old ride over the hill By Kate Daly Special to The Almanac

very Sunday morning a swarm of mature men dons spandex, straddles bicycles, and waits to see who shows up at Roberts Market in Woodside. A few minutes past 9 a.m. the group heads down Mountain Home Road, turns off to climb up Old La Honda Road, crosses Skyline Boulevard, and then returns down Highway 84. That’s what Over the Hill Bike Club has done for 30 years, ever since Jody Gessow invited Peter Daly, a father he met at Woodside Parents Cooperative Nursery School, to ride up the hill with him. Others soon joined them, and today the group’s email list goes out to 90 men and women. On Facebook the club has 198 followers. “It’s an open ride, we welcome

everybody,” Gessow said. One time the ride included Lance Armstrong, he said. To mark the club’s anniversary, about 30 bicyclists turned out on Oct. 11 to ride the same 20-mile route. Earlier in the year, a big party was planned and then canceled due to COVID-19, but riding together felt safe. Safety has been a focus for the club. Members have bought bike lights for local students to improve their visibility when riding. Since 2017 Over the Hill Bike Club members have been picking up litter on Woodside Road between Martin Lane and Southgate Drive. Some members have served on the town of Woodside’s Bicycle Committee. Daly said he enjoys the variety of people in the club and the camaraderie. Gessow agreed, saying, “It’s (been) a great way to visit with our friends and neighbors for decades.” A

Jody Gessow

Bicyclists rode up Old La Honda Road to celebrate climbing the hill for decades.

Portola Valley council candidates run self-funded campaigns By Julia Brown Almanac Assistant Editor

wo of the four candidates running for seats on the Portola Valley Town Council reported in campaign finance documents filed with the town that they have funded their own campaigns,

CORONAVIRUS continued from page 7

progression of the disease in patients who needed oxygen, resulting in a significantly lower need for mechanical ventilation. Thirteen percent of patients who took Veklury needed to be put on mechanical ventilators compared to 23% who did not take the drug. Fewer patients also died after 29 days when taking Veklury compared with the placebo — 11.4% versus 15.2%. “The approval of Veklury marks an important milestone in efforts to help address the pandemic by offering an effective treatment that helps patients recover faster and, in turn, helps preserve scarce health care resources,” Dr. Barry Zingman, professor of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, New York, said in the company’s press release. “(It) provides hospitalized patients and their families important hope and offers health care providers a critical tool as they care for patients in need.”

and with similar amounts of money. Mayor Jeff Aalfs reported in a statement covering Jan. 1 through Dec. Jeff Aalfs 1 that he had contributed $4,000 to his own

campaign and spent $3,197.99 on mailers, yard signs and a website. C h a l le n ge r Sarah Wernikoff, a com- Sarah Wernikoff munity volunteer with a background in

Daniel O’Day, chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, said, “It is incredible to be in the position today, less than one year since the earliest case reports of the disease now known as COVID-19, of having an FDA-approved treatment in the U.S. that is available for all appropriate patients in need.” The most common adverse reactions that occurred in patients who received either a 5-day or 10-day treatment course of Veklury included low percentages of nausea and increased liver enzymes. As for the availability of the drug, Gilead stated that as of Oct. 1 it was able to meet the demand in the United States and anticipated being able to meet global demand for Veklury this month as well, even in the event of potential future surges of COVID-19. The FDA also issued a new Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for using Veklury in hospitalized pediatric patients under 12 years of age. The authorization is temporary and may be revoked, the company said.

Comprehensive COVID-19 coverage View interactive charts tracking the spread of the coronavirus in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties online at paloaltoonline.atavist.com/ tracking-the-coronavirus. Find a comprehensive collection of coverage on the Midpeninsula’s response to the new coronavirus by The Almanac and its sister publications, Palo Alto Online, and the Mountain View Voice, at tinyurl.com/ c19-Almanac. CalMatters and Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

LEHUA GREENMAN "On Halloween you get to become anything y want to you be. Be safe and have fun!" 650.245.1845

web-based product management, raised $3,448.57 in monetary contributions — all from herself — between Jan. 1 and Oct. 17 and spent $2,948.57 toward campaign literature and mailings, postage and printing, according to campaign finance documents. Challengers Angela Hey, a

Public Notices 995 Fictitious Name Statement BREAKING GROUND THERAPY FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 285223 The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: Breaking Ground Therapy, located at 732 Montezuma Dr., Pacifica, CA 94044, San Mateo County. Registered owner(s): REBECCA GOOD, PsyD. 732 Montezuma Dr. Pacifica, CA 94044 This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on N/A. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of San Mateo County on September 25, 2020. (ALM Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2020) FitCuts FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 285340 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: FitCuts, located at 1181 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025, San Mateo County;

technologist, and retired family physician Mary Hufty confirmed Wednesday that they had not reached the $2,000 reporting threshold required to file campaign finance documents. A Email Julia Brown at jbrown@almanacnews.com

Mailing address: 200 Leland Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025. Registered owner(s): KCH LLC. 200 Leland Ave. Menlo Park, CA 94025 California This business is conducted by: A Limited Liability Company. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on N/A. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of San Mateo County on October 6, 2020. (ALM Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2020) JCS TRAINING LAB FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT File No.: 285221 The following person (persons) is (are) doing business as: JCS Training Lab, located at 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton, CA 94027, San Mateo County; Mailing address: PO Box 610080, 364 Woodside Plz., Redwood City, CA 94061. Registered owner(s): JESS CHRISTIAN REBADOMIA SAYO 4537 Half Dome St. Antioch, CA 94531 This business is conducted by: An Individual. The registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name(s) listed above on N/A. This statement was filed with the County Clerk-Recorder of San Mateo County on September 24, 2020. (ALM Oct. 23, 30; Nov. 6, 13, 2020)

For legal advertising call Alicia Santillan at 650-223-6578.

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Playgrounds in the county, city reopen By Kate Bradshaw Almanac Staff Writer

After months of being shut down, playgrounds reopened in most San Mateo County parks on Saturday, Oct. 24, and were scheduled to reopen throughout Menlo Park on Thursday, Oct. 29, after The Almanac went to press. The San Mateo County Parks Department announced Oct. 23 that it would reopen the playgrounds the following day, and listed a number of rules visitors are expected to follow. They should follow the maximum occupancies posted at each playground, stay 6 feet apart, not eat or drink at the playground and wear a mask if they are 2 years old or older. Adults must supervise children at all times. If a playground is at its maximum occupancy, families will have to wait until others leave to enter. “We’re excited to reopen our playgrounds ... because we understand how important access to outdoor recreation is especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said San Mateo County Parks Director Nicholas Calderon in a press statement. The one playground the

OUTBREAKS continued from page 7

county parks department operates that has not opened yet is at Flood Park in Menlo Park. The closure is being extended for safety reasons unrelated to the pandemic, according to parks department spokesperson Carla Schoof. The ground covering at the playground is running low and poses a safety threat, she said. The department is waiting on a large order of Fibar, the wood fiber mulch that provides solid footing and a cushioned landing pad for playground visitors, that is expected to arrive in time for the playground to open sometime around the first week of November, she said. However, playgrounds at the following county parks locations are open: three playgrounds at Coyote Point in San Mateo, two at Junipero Serra Park in San Bruno, Huddart Park in Woodside, Friendship Park in North Fair Oaks, Quarry Park in El Granada, and Moss Beach Park in Moss Beach. Go to parks.smcgov.org/countyparks for more information. A Email Kate Bradshaw at kbradshaw@almanacnews.com

school and public health plans in place for when COVID-19 occurs at a school, to implement control measures that will limit transmission within schools.” But even the strictest safety protocols might not be enough to prevent infected students from coming to school and unknowingly transmitting the virus to others, according to Chan and his colleagues at UC San Francisco. In studying random coronavirus tests of 30,000 children nationwide, Chan and his team found that the infection rate among children — even if they’re asymptomatic — mirrors that of the communities in which they live. Based on that equation, they developed a tool for schools to determine how many infected students they can expect on campus. For example, in Los Angeles County, a school with 500 students is 98% likely to have at least one student who’s infected. “It’s important to note that even in communities with low infection rates, we still found kids with asymptomatic infections,” Chan said. “Schools need to focus on reading the risks and protecting people.” Researchers at the Kaiser

TOWN OF WOODSIDE 2955 WOODSIDE ROAD WOODSIDE, CA 94062 NOVEMBER 4, 2020

6:00 PM

This meeting is compliant with the Governor’s Executive Order N-25-20 issued on March 4, 2020, allowing for deviation of teleconference rules required by the Brown Act. The purpose of this is to provide the safest environment for staff and the public while allowing for public participation. The meeting will be held by teleconferencing. The public may participate via Zoom meeting. PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PARTICIPATING BY TELECONFERENCE: BILDNER, DARE, ELFISHAWY, KUTAY, LONDON, VOELKE, AND WALL Join Zoom Meeting: One tap mobile +16699006833,,82774090586# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,82774090586# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

Meeting ID: 827 7409 0586 Weblink: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdjU0PaigI Remote Public Comments: Meeting participants are encouraged to submit public comments in writing in advance of the meeting. The following email will be monitored during the meeting and public comments received will be read into the record. Email: sharper@woodsidetown.org

PUBLIC HEARING 2. Town-wide Town of Woodside

ZAOM2020-0003 Planner: Jackie Young, Planning Director

A resolution of intent and recommendation to the Town Council to amend Chapter 153, Zoning, pertaining to building and plate height, including building and plate height for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s). THE APPLICATION MATERIALS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW BY CONTACTING JACKIE YOUNG, PLANNING DIRECTOR; AT JYOUNG@WOODSIDETOWN.ORG 16 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020

Family Foundation reached a similar conclusion, saying that outbreaks related to schools reopening may be unavoidable. “Where there is already widespread community transmission, as is the case in many areas in the U.S., there is clearly a risk of spread associated with reopening schools,” according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report published July 29. “This challenge may be more pronounced where testing and contact tracing capacity is limited.” In addition to masks and social distancing, some schools are considering installing ventilation systems that keep air flowing, since research suggests the virus is airborne; holding classes outdoors as weather permits; hiring extra staff to clean classrooms and enforce safety protocols; limiting the number of students in a classroom; and separating desks by 6 feet. Those steps can help lower, but not eliminate, the risk, according to Laura Flaherty, a policy researcher at the Rand Corporation, a nonprofit research and policy think tank. “There are a number of ways to reduce the transmission of Covid-19 in schools, although none of these measures take the risk to zero,” she said in a video on the Rand website. Flaherty and her colleagues suggested that schools space students apart as much as possible, expanding classes to other facilities such as libraries and community centers, if necessary; trying a week-on, weekoff schedule so students and teachers have some consistency with instruction; having teachers rotate among small groups of students; and hiring tutors to work with students when teachers are unavailable. A hybrid model of in-person and remote instruction might be one of the most important ways schools can reduce the transmission of Covid-19, researchers at Mathematica, a policy and research firm, found. Examining 400,000 simulations of possible virus transmission in schools, researchers found that schools can “dramatically” lower the chance of an outbreak

by combining a hybrid schedule with strict safety protocols, like wearing masks and eliminating in-person social interactions outside of class. Researchers also found that temporarily closing schools when an outbreak occurs is a less effective way to control the virus than adopting a hybrid model and enforcing safety protocols to begin with. But no method is foolproof, researchers said. “The possibility that schools could exacerbate the pandemic is a serious concern,” they said on the Mathematica website. “Every school that is opening its building to students — part time or full time, starting now or later in the school year — needs to prepare for the likelihood that a student or staff member will become infected with COVID-19, and have a plan in place for what to do next.” Still, some believe that the benefits of reopening schools outweigh the risks — especially for students for whom distance learning has been a struggle, or whose parents work. Distance learning has been a fiasco for too many students, especially those who were already at risk of falling behind, and it exacerbated an achievement gap in California that was among the widest in the country even before the pandemic, said Samantha Tran, senior managing director for education at Children Now, an advocacy and research organization. Students who lack reliable internet access, technical devices or a quiet place for online learning are falling dangerously behind their peers academically, she said. And many other students — even those with adequate technology at home — are simply not engaged in school, she said. “We’re talking about significant learning loss. Months and months and months,” she said. “It’s a serious equity issue. These kids have a fundamental right to an education, and they’re not getting it right now.” A

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

the time — from the plunging neckline of Madame’s chic black gown to her unconventional pose — but he will also explore lesser known aspects of Sargent’s career, including his talents as a watercolorist, muralist and landscape painter. The talk is presented as part of the Woodside Arts & Culture Committee’s Virtual First Friday series. More information is at woodsideartandculture.org. —Heather Zimmerman

continued from page 6

known as the “Portrait of Madame X.” Artist, teacher, art historian and architect Jim Caldwell discusses “The Scandal of Madame X” in an online talk presented Nov. 6, 7-8 p.m. by the Woodside Arts & Culture Committee. Caldwell not only delves into what made Sargent’s portrait so deliciously scandalous at

This story was first published by EdSource.

N E W S

Law enforcement officials donate to fire board incumbents Challenger Peter Carpenter adds $12K more to fellow challenger’s campaign By Julia Brown Almanac Assistant Editor

wo incumbents running for reelection to the Menlo Park Fire Protection District board have received donations in recent weeks from a number of familiar figures in the area, including a mix of current and retired San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office employees. Incumbent Rob Silano reported receiving $4,750 in monetary contributions and a $3,001 loan from himself between Sept. 20 and Oct. 17. Silano received $1,000 each from the Carlos Bolanos for Sheriff 2020 campaign, retired Menlo Park resident Jennifer VOTE continued from page 1

voting. To track your ballot, subscribe to “Where’s My Ballot?” at wheresmyballot.sos.ca.gov. There are two more ways to vote. Send a completed ballot by mail, postmarked on or before Nov. 3, and for voters who are disabled or visually impaired, there is the county’s Remote Accessible Vote by Mail System, in which voters can fill out a screen-readable ballot, print it out, and either mail or drop off the ballot at the San Mateo County Registration & Elections Division. More information is at smcacre.org. The Almanac’s voter guide is online with links to news stories, candidate profiles and editorials to help you make an informed decision on local races. We’ll keep adding links to new stories leading up to Election Day. You can find it at tinyurl.com/ alm-vg-2020.

Tune in for live local election results, analysis Midpeninsula residents can

Fuller, and retired Menlo Park resident Dale Fuller; $500 from retired Woodside resident Steven Andrighetto; $350 from retired San Jose resident Ronald Brooks; $350 from retired Foster City resident C. Preston Butcher; $250 from retired San Mateo County Sheriff Gregory Munks; $200 from county Undersheriff Mark Robbins; and $100 from Edward Wood, a county assistant sheriff. He also received $137 worth of signs from Absolute Software executive assistant Katrina Bayne of Menlo Park and $400 in signs and stickers from Matthew Silano, a Menlo Park resident and deputy sheriff for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. watch local election results Tuesday night during a live, one-hour broadcast being co-produced by Palo Alto Online, The Almanac and the Midpen Media Center. The special news program will be livestreamed at 10 p.m. simultaneously on the Palo Alto Online YouTube channel at YouTube.com/paweekly, the Media Center’s website at midpenmedia.org and local cable Channel 30. It will feature updated results and analysis of selected races and measures on the ballot in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Atherton and Mountain View. The broadcast will be hosted by Palo Alto Weekly Editor Jocelyn Dong and will feature commentary from former Palo Alto City Council member Vic Ojakian and Henrietta Burroughs, director of the East Palo Alto Media Center and host of the “Talking with Henrietta” cable show. Along with a summary of election results as they are released by the Registrars of Voters in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, selected candidates will be interviewed throughout the hour by Palo Alto Weekly and Almanac reporters.

Olivia Treynor

Audra Loftman takes a selfie with her ballot outside of Menlo Park City Hall on Oct. 27.

Silano spent $5,897.38 toward mailers, advertising, an email blast and political data. Fellow fire board incumbent Virginia Chang Kiraly received $1,000 over the same period and spent $3,109.48 on campaign mailers and newspaper advertising. Donors included Sheriff Carlos Bolanos, $500; developer David Bohannon, president and CEO of David D. Bohannon Organization, $250; Undersheriff Robbins, $100,

and retired Atherton resident Shannon Fallon, $100. She also received $50 in unitemized monetary contributions, and $810 in lawn signs paid for by her 2011 Kiraly for Menlo Park Fire Board committee, according to campaign finance documents. Challenger and former fire board member Peter Carpenter reported loaning himself $3,000 between Sept. 20 and Oct. 17 and spending $12,104.66 on

mailers and advertising for fellow challenger Sean Ballard, who he is campaigning with. Carpenter also spent $24,209.32 on campaign mailers, signs and advertising for his own campaign. Ballard only reported receiving the nonmonetary contributions from Carpenter over the same period. A Email Julia Brown at jbrown@almanacnews.com

NOTICE REQUESTING BIDS WEST BAY SANITARY DISTRICT PROJECT NORTH BAY ROAD AND RINGWOOD AVENUE Sealed proposals for the NORTH BAY ROAD AND RINGWOOD AVENUE PROJECT will be received at the West Bay Sanitary District, 500 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, California 94025 until 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at which time they will be publicly opened and read. Bids shall be labeled “West Bay Sanitary District, Proposal for “NORTH BAY ROAD AND RINGWOOD AVENUE PROJECT.” The Work will include the furnishing of all labor, materials and equipment, and other appurtenances for new installation, rehabilitation and replacement of sanitary sewer mains by Open Trench Construction, Pipe Bursting, and Curedin-Place Pipe, and add alternate installation of recycled water main by Open Trench Construction, as indicated on the project plans. The contract documents may be inspected at the office of the West Bay Sanitary District, 500 Laurel St, Menlo Park, California 94025; San Francisco Builders Exchange, Attn: Deanna Johnson, 850 So. Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, California 94110; Peninsula Builders Exchange, Attn: Andrea Nettles, 282 Harbor Blvd, Belmont, California 94002; Santa Clara Builders Exchange, Attn: Kanani Fonseca, 400 Reed Street, Santa Clara, California 95050; Bay Area Builders Exchange Attn: Jeannie Kwan, 3055 Alvarado Street, San Leandro, California 94577; Construction Bidboard Incorporated, Attn: Plan Room, 11622 El Camino Real, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92130. Copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained at the office of the West Bay Sanitary District upon payment of a check or money order in the amount of $60.00 for each set. The check or money order must be issued to the West Bay Sanitary District. All payments are nonrefundable. A pre-bid meeting will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/91805953854?pwd=YVl1U2RLdnFiWWszdTU3K2ZhNENzZz09 Meeting ID: 918 0595 3854 Passcode: 335819 One tap mobile +16699006833,,91805953854#,,,,,,0#,,335819# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) Passcode: 335819 Each bid proposal shall be accompanied by a certified or cashier‘s check or a proposal guaranty bond payable to the order of the West Bay Sanitary District in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the bid as a guaranty that the bidder will execute the contract if it be awarded to him in conformity with the proposal. The successful bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond in an amount not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price and a labor and material bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the contract price. The District (“Owner”) reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to determine which proposal is, in the judgment of the District, the lowest responsible bid of a responsible bidder or group of bidders and which proposal should be accepted in the best interest of the District. The District also reserves the right to waive any informalities in any proposal or bid. Bid proposals received after the time announced for the opening will not be considered. No bidder may withdraw his proposal after the time announced for the opening, or before award and execution of the contract, unless the award is delayed for a period exceeding forty-five (45) days. Pursuant to the provisions of Public Contract Code Section 22300, and upon the request and at the expense of the Contractor, securities equivalent to the amount withheld by the District to ensure performance under the Contract may be deposited with the District, or with a state or federally chartered bank as escrow agent who shall deliver such securities to the Contractor upon satisfactory completion of the contract. Only those securities listed in Government Code Section 16430 or other securities approved by the District are eligible for deposit. The deposit of securities with an escrow agent or the District shall be made in the form and on such terms and conditions as the District may require to protect the interest of the District in the event of the Contractor‘s default. The Contractor shall be the beneficial owner of any securities that are deposited and shall receive any interest thereon. Pertaining to Sections 1770, 1773, and 1773.1 of the California Labor Code the successful bidder shall pay not less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Copies of such prevailing rates are on file at the District office of the West Bay Sanitary District and which copies shall be made available to any interested party on request. The successful bidder shall post a copy of such determinations at each job site. In accordance with the provisions of California Public Contract Code Section 3300, the District has determined that the Contractor shall possess a valid Class A License or a combination of Class C-12 “Earthwork and Paving”, C-34 “Pipeline” and C-42 “Sanitation System” licenses at the time this contract is awarded. Failure to possess the specified license(s) shall render the bid as non-responsive and shall act as a bar to award of the contract to any bidder not possessing said license(s) at the time of award. West Bay Sanitary District Board of Directors San Mateo County, California /s/ Sergio Ramirez District Manager Dated: October 14, 2020

October 30, 2020 Q AlmanacNews.com Q The Almanac Q 17

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Menlo School to livestream ‘Dracula’ over Halloween weekend By Angela Swartz Almanac Staff Writer

rom the comfort of your couch, you can livestream Menlo School Drama department’s “Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors” during Halloween weekend. The Atherton school’s play reimagines Bram Stoker’s Gothic horror novel and is reminiscent of classic radio dramas broadcast in the 1930s and 1940s, according to a Menlo Drama press release. The production will include suspense, punchlines and sound effects created by students for an immersive audio experience. “After reading the script last summer, I knew immediately that it was the perfect elixir for times like this,” said Steven Minning, director of creative arts and Upper School Drama at Menlo School, about why he chose “Dracula” as the fall play. The play, which was written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, follows Count Dracula as he travels to England to seduce the woman of his dreams. Developed at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, the show

Courtesy Alison Leupold

Menlo School will put on a production of “Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors” during Halloween weekend.

premiered at The Maltz Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida, last year and has been optioned for a Broadway production once Broadway reopens. Menlo School is the first high school to produce it.

William R. Carsillo

reimagine their season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Actors will be encased on stage in movable plexiglass cubes. The cubes are designed with wheels on their bases, giving the actors a fluidity on stage that allows the

ORANGE TIER

alleys, climbing walls and wineries to resume operating inside with caps on capacity. Bars, breweries and distilleries at which food is not served must continue to operate outdoors. Last week, the state allowed counties in the orange tier to reopen outdoor theme parks and professional sporting venues to fans at limited capacities. However, indoor sports venues, such as the Santa Cruz Warriors’ Kaiser Permanente Arena, are still not allowed to sell tickets. State Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said that while the four Bay Area counties and three others progressed to less-restrictive tiers on Tuesday, the state is still seeing warning signs of cases and hospitalizations rising. “We do have a number of counties ... who we are concerned about moving back in the future,” he said during Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Tuesday update on the pandemic and wildfires burning across the state. “We’re working closely with their public health teams and other leaders in their counties to ensure that we are digging into the data, understanding it very well, so that we can take the appropriate steps ... to make sure transmission is reduced as far and as much as possible,” Ghaly added. San Mateo County Supervisor

continued from page 5

1932 – 2020 William Carsillo passed away peacefully at his home on September 28 surrounded by his family. A native of the Peninsula, Bill graduated from Sequoia High School and from the University of Oregon before returning to the Bay Area to begin working in real estate. He later began a distinguished 46-year career in service to the US Department of the Navy, at first at San Bruno’s Western Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Real Estate Division, and later on Treasure Island, ending his career as Director, Navy Base Closure and Relocation. Bill retired with commendations from the Secretary of the Navy and then-President Barack Obama. He received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and Medal, presented in 2002 and 2011. Although dedicated to work, Bill was first and foremost a family man, who lived with abundant love and humor. He just celebrated his 54th wedding anniversary with the love of his life, Beth, with whom he shared a devotion to the arts, especially music, theatre, and visual art. He was a talented oil painter and an avid gardener with a special affinity for roses. His family cherishes his many paintings. Bill was a loyal friend, loving husband, father, brother, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Beth, his daughters Jennifer Carsillo (Michael Butterman) and their daughter Olivia, Lori Carsillo (Bryce Lynn) and their two sons, his cousin John Shea (Carolyn Shea) who was like a brother to him, and numerous extended family including sisters and brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins. A private memorial was held and a celebration of Bill’s life will be held at a future date. PAID

“Dracula” will be performed at Menlo School’s new Spieker Center for Performing Arts, while simultaneously being streamed to the listeners and viewers at home. Menlo Drama had to creatively

OBITUARY

18 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020

The state assigned this week’s tiers based on data from the week ending Oct. 17, when San Mateo County had an adjusted case rate of 3 per day per 100,000, a test positivity rate of 1.6% and a health equity quartile test positivity rate of 3.7%. “This is a total team effort, and by team I mean everyone who lives and works and loves San Mateo County,” County Manager Mike Callagy said in a news release Tuesday. “Every time you wear your face covering, wash your hands, practice social distancing and take other common-sense precautions, you contribute to the team effort to reopening our economy and returning our lives to as normal as possible.” In the orange tier, additional businesses may loosen restrictions. Dine-in restaurants, places of worship, gyms, malls and retail stores, museums and movie theaters may increase their capacity in the orange tier. Gyms, fitness centers and hotels will also be allowed to reopen indoor pools, while gyms themselves can increase their capacity from 10% to 25% of their maximum occupancy. Moving into the orange tier also allows multiple sectors like offices, cardrooms, bowling

cast to move with them and use them as doors to enter and exit a scene. “I loved the idea of combining mediums by doing the show as a radio play while safely performing it live and streaming it to the community at large,” said Minning, who is directing his 22nd show for Menlo School. “The versatility and humor was what attracted me most to the show.” Performances are free. The show will run Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. via livestream. The show is recommended for middle schoolaged kids and up. This production of “Dracula” will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula. Over the past seven seasons, Menlo Drama has raised close to $50,000 for nonprofit organizations. Viewers can support the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula by donating online during the livestream at bgcp. org/menloschool. For more information, go to menloschool.org/arts/drama. A Email Angela Swartz at aswartz@almanacnews.com David Canepa argued the county’s tier change could only be looked at as a positive, provided that county residents continue following public health guidance. He also praised the county’s resilience after San Mateo County was one of the Bay Area’s first COVID-19 hot spots in March and April. “This will allow many of our retail businesses to start operating at full capacity,” Canepa said in a statement. “It means that there is no longer a substantial risk of catching (COVID-19) in this county. Now we must minimize the risk if we want to move to yellow and complete this historic comeback.” All four counties will be required to stay in the orange tier for at least three weeks before they would be allowed to move into the state’s leastrestrictive tier, which includes resuming indoor operations for businesses like bars, arcades and ice- and roller-skating facilities. Each county would also have to meet the least-restrictive yellow tier’s case rate, test positivity rate and health equity metric thresholds for two consecutive weeks to be allowed into that tier. To date, only San Francisco County has moved into the yellow tier among the 11 counties in the Bay Area and Monterey Bay peninsula. A

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Mary Gilles 650.814.0858 m.gilles@ggsir.com Lic. #01789710 October 30, 2020 Q AlmanacNews.com Q The Almanac Q 19

Viewpoint IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS

ABOUT LOCAL ISSUES

It’s time to get out and vote GUEST OPINION By Arhaan Gupta-Rastogi

he election is a few days away! Have the adults in your life voted? Are the adults in your life planning to vote? If not, you might ask them if they’ve enjoyed the last four years, and if they’re better off now than they were in 2016. Either way, they need to vote. Voting is the right of every U.S. citizen over the age of 18, and our democracy cannot work if we don’t vote. Our votes dictate the policies that shape our lives and our future: everything from school funding to Social Security. If you’re a kid like me, then you can’t vote yet. This is a bummer, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t influence others. An average of only 55% of eligible people vote in U.S. presidential elections (as of 2016), and that’s not nearly high enough to keep our republic healthy and moving forward. In fact, the U.S. places 26th in voter

LE TT E R S Our readers write

No on 15 I read with interest the letter (“Yes on Prop 15,” Oct. 9) supporting Proposition 15, which would tax commercial property at its “highest and best use” value without regard to any change in ownership. The writer pointed out that large properties like Disneyland are getting a special break, and that 40% of the money raised would be earmarked for education. I also read carefully an opposing guest opinion (“Vote no on Proposition 15,” Oct. 23) arguing that much of the increased tax bill would be paid by small businesses due to the tax passthrough provisions of their leases. It occurs to me that other unintended consequences, such as private clubs being forced to sell and develop long-held open spaces, would also befall us. But although I oppose Prop 15 it’s not because I know exactly what the effects will be; instead, it’s because I don’t. No one does. Like many other propositions that have to use broad terms to shift tax policy and lock in categories of public spending,

turnout among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. This means that 25 developed countries (including Canada and Mexico) have higher voter turnout rates than we do. We can do better! It’s time for us to get adults out to vote. We’re already good at convincing them — how many of us have smartphones or spend way too much time playing video games? The truth is, we have a lot of influence over our elders. They’ll listen to us, in part because deep down they know what’s right. Women only got the right to vote in the U.S. in 1920, and they had to sacrifice a lot for that. African Americans have struggled (for the right) to vote for over a century, and we can’t just dismiss their sacrifices. The next time adults complain about the hassle of filling out a ballot and turning it in, remind them of life in the South before the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This year, there are many ways to vote in California. You can mail

in a ballot, drop a ballot off at a designated drop box, go to your county elections office and fill out your ballot and submit it early, and you can vote in person Oct. 31 through Nov. 3. Voting early is the best bet. Say what you want about California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, but he definitely makes it easy to vote. With all these ways to cast a ballot, it’s easier than ever to make our voices heard. We just need to make sure that the adults around us carry out their minimal civic duties. In the end, even though we kids can’t vote, we can still do our part. This means getting our parents and other adults out there to vote. If they’re worried about COVID-19 (which makes sense), then they can mail in their ballot or drop it off at a designated drop box. Easy! So let’s beat Canada and Mexico this time, and really get out the vote. Our future really does depend on it. A Arhaan Gupta-Rastogi is an eighth grade student at Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park.

it’s anyone’s guess what the collateral damage might be. When we consider complex changes like this (as opposed to broad questions of policy like restoring the vote to ex-felons), we should do it through the Legislature, which can take the time to study all dimensions of the issue. That’s why we have a representative democracy. Let’s ask our elected representatives to look at the issue in a way that thoughtfully balances competing interests and avoids surprises. In the meantime, vote no on Prop. 15. Jim Pooley Golden Oak Drive Portola Valley

used to escape paying their fair share of property taxes in California. Meanwhile, homeowners and small businesses have had to bear the increasing brunt of making up for our state budget shortfalls while corporations continue to evade their obligations to the state and our communities. Prop 15 will explicitly exempt homeowners and small businesses. In fact, most small businesses will see a reduction in property taxes if the initiative is passed. Prop 15 will reclaim billions every year for our schools, community colleges, and essential local services like fire departments and health care. Don’t listen to the lies by corporate interests to protect their tax loophole. Let’s put schools and communities first. Vote yes on Prop 15! James Nguyen Sunnyvale

Yes on 15 There was a time not long ago when political ads were simply misleading or partially false. In 2020, it seems acceptable for campaigns to make baldfaced lies about candidates and campaigns. The “No on Prop 15” campaign will have you think that voting yes will mean increasing taxes on homeowners and small businesses. Nothing could be further from the truth. The passage of Prop 15 will lead to the closing of a long-standing tax loophole corporations have

20 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020

Our election recommendations U.S. Congress

Measure RR - Yes

Anna Eshoo (D)(inc) Jackie Speier (D)(inc)

Prop. 14 - No Prop. 15 - Yes

State Senate

I urge you to reelect Rep. Anna Eshoo. She’s been our representative for 20 years, and always cares deeply about her constituents, persistently and effectively passing legislation that has protected consumer

Prop. 17 - Yes

State Assembly

Marc Berman (D)(inc)

Prop. 18 - Yes

Menlo Park City Council

Prop. 19 - Yes

Jen Wolosin

Prop. 20 - No

Atherton City Council

Prop. 21 - Yes

Elizabeth Lewis (inc) Cary Wiest (inc)

Prop. 22 - No Prop. 23 - No

Portola Valley Town Council

Jeff Aalfs (inc) Sarah Wernikoff

interests, our environment, and our health, for the benefit of all Americans. She also believes in working across the aisle, which is one of the reasons her work is so powerful. Several years ago, I got to know her personally, collaborating with her on a wide range of issues important to our community. Her willingness to work with me, and my fellow concerned residents, on a very wide range of issues ranging from poverty eradication to special education inspired us and made us know we always have an ally in Washington. She is always willing to meet, always answers emails, and always takes care of requests from her constituents. She is a dynamo in Washington, and also supports us locally. Please reelect Rep. Eshoo! IdaRose Sylvester Mountain View

Thinking about moving Reelect Eshoo

Prop. 16 - Yes

Josh Becker (D)

It felt weird to cheer for rolling blackouts when I read your article, “As forecasted high winds pick up, PG&E to cut power to thousands of San Mateo and Santa Clara county customers” (Published online Oct. 25). But it’s better than the

Prop. 24 - Yes Prop. 25 - Yes

alternative: destroyed homes and cities and unbreathable air. This fire season has got me thinking about moving, as Sherry Listgarten suggested in her recent post, “Thinking of moving? You’re not alone.” (Published in The Almanac’s blog section Oct. 18) Unfortunately, there are not great options for places to go. Colorado and Oregon have been burning. The southeast has been pummeled by hurricanes. Coastal New Jersey, my former home, is flooding frequently. Unless we do something about climate change, leaving California amounts to running away from something that will catch up with you eventually anyway. And I don’t want to leave California! Fortunately, we can get climate change under control. We have the technology, we just need the political will. Call your member of Congress and ask them to prioritize climate solutions. Contact the local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby at cclsvn@gmail.com to learn what else you can do. We can solve climate change together! Nicholas Robinson Mountain View

Artscene

P E O P L E A N D P E R F O R M A N C E S I N A R T S A N D E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Katherine Filice’s “Memory April” was named best of show in the Pacific Art League’s Beyond 2020 exhibition, now on display in Palo Alto.

Mara Catherine Sippel’s painting “Lights Out.”

Pacific Art League goes with new exhibition Venerable Palo Alto arts organization celebrates its 99th anniversary despite pandemic restrictions By Sheryl Nonnenberg Photos courtesy Pacific Art League

or most nonprofit visual arts organizations, staying afloat is challenging even in the best of times. A pandemic presents even more difficulties, as venues remain closed and interaction is limited. The Pacific Art League (PAL) has decided to brave the storm and hold its annual anniversary exhibition while finding innovative ways to work around COVID-19 restrictions. The result is

“Beyond 2020,” a juried competition encompassing work in a variety of media that can be viewed, until Dec. 31, on the organization’s website and in the league’s windows in downtown Palo Alto. This year marks 99 years that PAL has been in existence. Anniversary committee chair Kay Culpepper described the process that led to the decision to hold the show. “As the virus wore on, it became apparent that we needed this exhibition more than ever before. Now came the task

of ‘How to do it in the midst of a pandemic?’ Our amazing committee made up of members, artists, instructors, board members and staff all working together made it feel possible.” As with previous competitions, staff got the prospectus circulated via callto-artists listings and notifications to other arts organizations. Culpepper said that word of mouth was also a powerful communication tool. The exhibition was open to Bay Area artists who could hand-deliver their work if they wished to

compete for space at the on-site gallery. Artists also had the option to submit JPEG files. Artists had to pay a submission fee, as the event is a fundraiser for the organization, but Culpepper believes that this year’s show offered even more benefits than usual. “We had two amazing jurors, 10 prize awards, three full months of viewing time, offers of submission sponsors and 60% of sales going directly to the artists. See PACIFIC ART LEAGUE, page 22

From left: “Safe” by Joan Hancock; “Seeing The World Through Curtains” by Marj Green; and “Croquet” by Dana Shields. October 30, 2020 Q AlmanacNews.com Q The Almanac Q 21

A R T S C E N E PACIFIC ART LEAGUE continued from page 21

In addition, the artist behind this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best of show (Katherine Filice for her ink on paper â&#x20AC;&#x153;Memory Aprilâ&#x20AC;?) will have a monthlong solo show in the main gallery once the building reopens.â&#x20AC;? The jurors selected for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s competition have years of experience as artists, instructors and curators. Ric Ambrose works in large-scale drawings and has curated numerous museum exhibitions. Chun-Hui Yu is a painter and has taught Chinese brush painting and calligraphy at San Jose City College and at PAL. Both said that they were impressed with the high quality of submissions. Ambrose explained that the goal was to accept 100 works of art, which was roughly half of the total number submitted. Ambrose and Yu separately selected works then met, via Zoom calls, to compare their choices. They continued to cull the list until reaching the desired number. Award winners were reviewed in person and announced at a virtual opening that took place on Oct. 2. Yu shared her criteria for selecting art. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first part is objective and includes technique, composition, color and light. The second part is subjective: creativity, imagination, emotion and feelings.â&#x20AC;? She added that she feels that competitions like this are important, â&#x20AC;&#x153;to promote art and artists, encourage artists to create and inspire and support the community through these times.â&#x20AC;? A scroll through the online gallery

reveals that the show has something for everyone. Enjoy the sunny landscapes of early California art? Check out David Stonesiferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bucolic â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saratoga History Orchardâ&#x20AC;? or the rolling hills in Jack Culpepperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Golden State.â&#x20AC;? The cool stillness of Edward Hopper is mirrored in Mara Catherine Sippelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s painting â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lights Out.â&#x20AC;? And if the chiaroscuro contrasts found in the photography of Edward Weston intrigue you, Marj Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seeing the World Through Curtainsâ&#x20AC;? is sure to please. Joan Hancockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Safeâ&#x20AC;? is a portrait of a woman against a patterned background, reminiscent of Henri Matisse. The intricate work of Dutch Masters is reflected in Nicole Golkoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stunning still-life â&#x20AC;&#x153;Oranges and Poppies.â&#x20AC;? And if abstraction is more your thing, Ken Brennerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Cascadeâ&#x20AC;? is a splash of complementary colors with a push/pull motif, similar to the work of Hans Hoffman. For those of us who cannot afford blue-chip prices, exhibitions like this offer a way to acquire affordable art as well as to support local artists and venerable teaching organizations like PAL. There is also an opportunity to see some of the art in person, even though PAL remains closed. Throughout the course of the exhibition, art will be installed on wall panels inside the perimeter windows. Currently, the display includes the award winners but, in the future, the displays will change every two weeks so that all of the selected pieces can be seen. It is a clever way to work around the shuttered building and enlivens the neighborhood, as the windows

The sunny landscapes of early California art are evoked in David Stonesiferâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saratoga History Orchard.â&#x20AC;?

are illuminated at night. As Culpepper noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had to find a way to think outside the box and outside the building.â&#x20AC;? Having surmounted the obstacles presented by the pandemic this year, PAL can look ahead to next year and its centennial commemoration. Culpepper expressed optimism for the future, based on how â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond 2020â&#x20AC;? came together. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the Art League itself the greatest reward is having art again online and outside,

lighting up our windows on the world. But we hope our gift to the community is rewarding as well â&#x20AC;&#x201D; beautiful art for the public to view, enjoy and celebrate.â&#x20AC;? The Pacific Art League is located at 668 Ramona St., Palo Alto. For more information and to view the online exhibition, go to pacificartleague.org. A Freelance writer Sheryl Nonnenberg can be emailed at nonnenberg@aol.com

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22 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020

Food&Drink Selby’s shutters for the winter

popular Mountain View ramen joint closes By Elena Kadvany

ast week brought good news about more than a dozen eateries opening up on the Peninsula. This week, news of two closures in the local dining scene: one temporary, and one enabling a pivot to a new venture in the South Bay. Swanky Selby’s restaurant is riding out the pandemic by closing until spring, while the popular Shalala Ramen closed for good, one of several recent closures in downtown Mountain View.

Selby’s closes temporarily Since March, the Selby’s dining room — with mohair walls, custom chandeliers and tableside martini service — has remained dark, while the kitchen focused instead on translating that experience into takeout and delivery. The upscale restaurant, opened by Bacchus

Management Group last summer on the border of Atherton and Redwood City, is now on on temporary hiatus until next year. The restaurant’s last service at 3001 El Camino Real was Sunday, Oct. 25. “Selby’s restaurant was designed and built for the purpose of gathering people together to celebrate and enjoy a delicious meal in each other’s company,” Bacchus said in a statement. “With winter approaching and the ongoing shelter-in-place orders limiting indoor dining, we have made the thoughtful decision to temporarily pause service until spring 2021.” Bacchus billed Selby’s as a return to the food and glamour of 1930s and 1940s Hollywood, with dishes like lobster thermidor and a $50 truffle-topped burger. The restaurant group completely gutted and rebuilt the two-story, 10,000-squarefoot space. They hoped to win a Michelin star and Wine Spectator Grand Award, the magazine’s highest honor.

Sammy Dallal

Bartender Nigel Siri prepares a Duke’s Vesper martini last November at Selby’s in Redwood City.

Selby’s had all the bells and whistles — martini carts, two kitchens, private dining rooms, a back staircase for VIP diners — but lacked outdoor dining, which has become a lifeline for many restaurants. The location doesn’t allow for outdoor dining, Bacchus said, and the 25% cap at that time on indoor capacity in San Mateo County

wouldn’t be sustainable. In July, Bacchus Management Group permanently closed one of its other local restaurants, Mayfield Bakery & Cafe in Palo Alto. The group also operates The Village Pub and The Village Bakery in Woodside and Spruce in San Francisco. Selby’s staff will be “supporting” The Village Pub and Spruce, Bacchus said. Selby’s will still offer special holiday menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve and is taking inquiries for private events.

Mountain View’s Shalala Ramen closes

Michelle Le

Shalala’s popular spicy miso ramen, served with pork belly, corn, bamboo shoots, earwood mushrooms and scallions.

After a decade of serving tonkotsu and spicy miso ramen in Mountain View, Shalala Ramen is permanently closing. Owner Nobu Iwahashi is opening a new, takeout-only concept in San Jose. Shalala Ramen’s last day at 698 W. Dana St. was Monday, Oct. 26. Iwahashi said he had thought about leaving Mountain View before but the decision was accelerated by the impact of the pandemic. Shalala’s sales are still down 50%. With only two outdoor tables, he’s had to sustain the business mostly on takeout while competing with other downtown restaurants

that have more outdoor seating. He said his landlord deferred rent for two months, but staying afloat was still a challenge. “I’m looking at the future, that the coronavirus is going to be (here for) a couple more years. That’s why I want to do something new,” Iwahashi said. His new venture, called Fugetsu, will sell packaged Japanese food, such as bento boxes, onigiri, okonomiyaki and kushikatsu. There will be no restaurant service; it will instead operate as a pickup operation. Fugetsu is opening at the Saratoga Avenue shopping center that also houses the Japanese Mitsuwa Marketplace. Iwahashi said he hopes to open in November. Shalala is not the only closure in downtown Mountain View. Flights on Castro Street has closed permanently, owner Alex Hult confirmed. The closure followed Hult’s Mountain View landlord suing him this summer for back-rent payments. The lawsuit has since been settled, Hult said. HeyOEats, which served vegan fare inside Ava’s Downtown Market & Deli, is also no more, a market employee confirmed. A Email Elena Kadvany at ekadvany@paweekly.com

October 30, 2020 Q AlmanacNews.com Q The Almanac Q 23

24 Q The Almanac Q AlmanacNews.com Q October 30, 2020